Many people tend to take their feet for granted, but we believe that the feet are one of the more underappreciated parts of the body. These help us go where we need to and they remain at the core of almost everything we do.
Since our feet undergo a lot of wear and tear, taking care of them is the only way to go to ensure they’re in tip-top shape. Diabetic Feet, in particular, need to pay extra care and attention since their disease can affect the overall health of their feet.
Diabetes is a condition that affects the nerves and people who are living with this disease are prone to losing feeling in their legs and feet or feeling nerve pain. If you have diabetes, here’s how you can keep your feet healthy.
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Check Your Feet Every Single Day
Diabetics can lose the feeling in their feet, and thus, may not exactly notice when they’re already in pain or if they have cuts or sores in the area. They are even at risk for wounds that won’t heal, or worse, infections.
Given this, it’s important for you to check your feet every single day. In fact, if you have the time to do it more than once a day, then by all means, please do so. Take the time to examine your feet for swelling, foot wounds, scrapes, sores, blisters, and even calluses. Be sure to extend this examination to your nails and the skin around your feet.
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Go to a Foot Doctor for Any Foot Complication
In the unfortunate event you manage to find some irregularities or complications with your feet, calling a professional is your best bet. Your foot doctor is highly skilled in assessing the state of your feet, and by extension, how to treat foot pain and extend the right wound care treatment for your needs.
Apart from the signs above, some more serious symptoms you need to see your doctor about include foot pain, cramping that reaches your thighs or buttocks, tingling in your feet, loss of feeling, and fungal infections, to name a few.
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Take the Time to Moisturize Them
Dryness is one of the factors that can lead to cracked heels or encounter more problems, which is why it’s important to keep them moisturized. This helps prevent it from cracking or encountering sores or cuts too easily, and by extension, keeps infection at bay.
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Find Well-Fitting Shoes
The right pair of shoes can make you feel like a hundred bucks, more so when it fits perfectly. If you get ill-fitting shoes, these can put added pressure on your feet, making the material rub against your feet, even causing it to get sores, blisters, or calluses that can fester into infections if left untreated.
The Takeaway
Taking care of your feet, especially if you are a diabetic, is a crucial part of your life to keep your feet healthy. If you are in need of wound care in Howard County and surrounding areas, be sure to get in touch with Howard County Foot & Ankle specialists today.